Why is Tsu
Koon in the dock with UMNO national leaders endorsing allegations of
neglect, discrimination and marginalization of Malays in Penang

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Media Statementby Lim Kit Siang
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(Parliment,
Monday) :There seems to be a major shift
in the political dynamics after the public humiliation of the Penang Chief
Minister, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon at the official opening of the Tanjong
Umno division premises by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi
last Tuesday – not only the open slight by the Tanjung Umno Division
chairman Datuk Ahmad Ibnihajar who completely ignored Koh in his speech but
also by the seven-banner public protest by Balik Pulau Umno Youth accusing
Koh of neglecting the Malays in Penang.

The statements and speeches by
UMNO national leaders carry one common message – that Koh is in the dock as
the allegations of neglect, discrimination and marginalization of the Malays
in Penang have their endorsement.

Hence the support by the
Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak of the call by the Tanjung
Umno division on Saturday that the Penang Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri
Abdul Rashid Abdullah be vested with more executive powers to “enable him to
plan his own approach to help Malays”.

Tsu Koon’s
quick explanation yesterday that his “position, responsibilities and
authority as Chief Minister will not be affected” with the vesting of “more
executive powers” to the Deputy Chief Minister must rank as among the most
unbelievable statements of the year.

Umno Youth
leader and Education Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin has also weighed in
against Koh and thrown his support behind Penang Umno/Umno Youth when he
said in Sandakan yesterday that Koh must resolve the problems of the Malays
in Penang without laying down any condition. (Berita Harian)

Without
asking Balik Pulau Umno Youth to apologise for the public “slap-in-the face”
to Koh with the seven-banner public protest, Hishammudin wanted Koh to meet
Penang state Umno/Umno Youth leaders to iron out issues pertaining to the
Malay development in the state.

Koh had pleaded for time, saying that had there been no demonstration from
members of the Balik Pulau Umno division against him on Tuesday, he would
have met the Umno leaders already.

This has
resulted in Hishammuddin’s harsh warning to Koh from Sandakan yesterday.

It was only last week at the Gerakan National Delegates Conference that Koh rebuked and challenged Penang Umno/Umno Youth leaders to give facts to substantiate their allegations of neglect, discrimination and marginalization of the Malays in Penang.

However, not
only have the Penang Umno/Umno Youth leaders disregarded him, his call has
not been heeded by national Umno/Umno Youth leaders.

Hence,
Hishammuddin’s warning from Sandakan and the statements from Najib on
vesting more executive powers to the Penang Deputy Chief Minister and the
need for Koh to demonstrate that he is “CM for all races”.

What has
happened to Koh’s challenge to his critics to produce “concrete facts” to
back up the allegations that under his Chief Ministership in the past 16
years, Malays in Penang had been neglected, discriminated against and
marginalized, and that he had failed to be “CM for all races”?